When people speak and socialize, either individually or in groups, we employ interpersonal skills. Therefore, interpersonal skills can be termed as one person’s ability to communicate effectively with others. The importance of being able to share effectively with others cannot be overstated. If you are a good communicator, you will have no problem working in teams or groups, both formal and informal. One can interact well with others, whether they are family members or friends. In addition, they enjoy more harmonious personal and professional lives. This paper aims to discuss interpersonal skills concerning fundamental communication skills gained from an online class discussion. Some of the communication skills discussed broadly during the course are respect, active listening, and confidence. Interpersonal skills are regarded as the core foundation of life, and without them, our world would be considered dark.
Throughout the online class, the instructor emphasized the importance of practicing active listening, the lessons were lively, and everyone actively participated. Interpersonal abilities are critical for talking and collaborating with groups or individuals in both personal and professional lives. People with high interpersonal skills are more likely to develop positive relationships and work well with others.
They have an excellent understanding of friends, coworkers, and clients. Usually, people frequently appreciate working with colleagues who possess strong interpersonal skills. In addition, the skills enable one to have the capacity to handle issues and make sound judgments. Finally, the trainer underscored the importance of learning basic communication skills during the online discussion, such as respect, active listening, confidence, and communication. This paper will reflect in detail on the specific skills learned virtually, and it will further enlighten the importance of learning interpersonal skills.
First, respect can be described as a strong appreciation for someone or anything sparked by their characteristics, attributes, or accomplishments. So far, in the virtual class, I have learned to make informed decisions by evaluating and assessing someone before judging them. As a result, I have impressively improved my rapport and time consciousness while in group discussions with my colleagues. Second, I emphasized active listening, which entails focusing more on the person you interact with by involving them in conversation, asking clarifying questions, and rewording. Therefore, communication skills have helped me apply the specific skill to my daily learning activities and, most importantly, when learning in class or virtually. Hence, I can justify that my understanding has progressively improved during online lessons, and my grades have improved too.
Finally, confidence was also a critical skill throughout the semester. Confidence can be branded as sentiment or conviction that one can trust or depend on someone or something (Koprowska, 2020). Notably, confidence is vital in that it broke me from the shackles of introversion. Thus, I can comfortably address a crowd as I speak, something I consider impossible.
Confidence is the belief that one can have faith in or rely on someone or something. In attending interpersonal skills virtually, I learned that confidence has been vital to my perfection in specific areas, such as public speaking. Importantly it is indispensable to note confidently articulated ideas elicit a more favorable response from the audience. Techniques to project confidence include making eye contact when speaking with someone and rehearsing to refine ideas, and you are prepared to answer any inquiries without hesitation. Furthermore, communication confidence is advantageous at work and throughout the interview session (Saputra & Prasetiawan, 2019).
Initially, I had difficulties in this quality; for instance, I could not make eye contact with someone or a crowd while addressing them, and my composure was dreadful, too, when I was with my mates. However, many people suffer from impostor syndrome, which means fear of expressing their skills since they panic about being labeled as fraud (Wrench et al., 2020). In regard to this, the online course has helped me work on my self-esteem; therefore, I can express myself without fear of being judged.
I can confidently pick respect as my primary skill as a communicator. During the online class, I learned that respect could be defined as a deep attachment to someone or something based on their features, traits, or achievements. Respect requires an awareness of when to begin a dialogue and when to reply. Enabling people to talk without disruption is a crucial communication skill associated with courtesy in a group situation.
The skill also entails effectively managing your time with another person – staying on topic, asking pertinent questions, and thoroughly answering any inquiries posed. With great precision, I can say that respect has always been my ultimate trait ever since I was a toddler, and since then, I have always been branded as a respectful lad. I like accepting people for who they are; therefore, respect is the best skill for me since it assists me in coexisting peacefully in the neighborhood. As a result, I have an impeccable connection with my neighbors and do not judge them in any way.
In undertaking the virtual lessons, I realized that; showing courtesy and kindness is a way of portraying respect. Therefore, regardless of what one is doing or whoever one interacts with, it is essential to maintain good manners constantly. Furthermore, avoiding being negative is another crucial aspect of respect; it is ideal for solving workplace or school issues. It shows utmost respect rather than being irrational and showing frustration. Lastly, avoiding being overcritical of others is essential. It helps one avoid disparaging and patronizing other opinions. Therefore enhancing the spirit of working together, I can confidently say, is the key to any other person.
The communication method is the primary mode of communication that enables the transmitter to talk or write and the recipient to read or listen. Practical communication elements cannot be overlooked. They include; sender, receiver, message, channel, feedback, and noise. The communication method is mainly characterized by oral transmission, where one speaks while the other listens. Further, it entails non-verbal cues, which include actions, body gestures, and other physical aspects. By this, I cannot underestimate the essence of the online class in sensitizing effective communication methods, which has boosted my self-assurance.
To be specific, oral communication is complete; for example, when a teacher talks, he delivers. As students, we listen and respond immediately to questions and seek clarification on areas we do not understand, resulting in a good bonding between the teacher and us. According to Wrench et al. (2020), mindful communication skill is essential for one to build trust with others and avoid being deceptive since it is hard to build trust. They further advocate for ethical communication integrity, which is vital in creating mutual communication for understanding, caring, and ensuring freedom of speech is upheld.
Positively, the learning activity online had an immense impact on my mental and emotional wellness. It has enlightened me, and as a result, I can conduct a group discussion virtually as the leader with conviction and address a crowd of people. The activity has given me the enthusiasm to be a leader; it has given me a sense of belonging. I feel I have something to live for rather than being an introvert and feeling good for nothing for myself.
The skills learned from online classes enable one to speak their mind freely without fear of being judged. Therefore, it is more of a democratic process that enables individuals to interact freely at home, school, or place of work. I want to improve the course by introducing compulsory in-person classes and online lessons during holidays in schools. Such blueprints ensure everyone gets to experience required in the matter of skills. Alternatively, I would organize seminars online and in-person, involving the course during holidays, and conduct home base learning to ensure the skills diversify.
Conclusion
To sum up, communications skills, as per the virtual class, are the fundamentals required to run daily activities, and without them, the world could be a dark place. Without communication skills, knowledge aspects, such as respect, would lack, and one must exist peacefully. Acquiring such skills online ensures peaceful coexistence and accommodating others irrespective of where they come from or how they look. Further, we can also view how confidence complements other attributes, such as public speaking, in someone’s life. Without faith, one is unable to face a crown and address them appropriately. It is also important to note that confidence boosts people’s mindset to face hurdles that they might encounter without fear. It enhances one self-esteem, and hence one can express themselves when surrounded by people.
Finally, the essence of communication cannot be questioned in its role of ensuring communication is effective from one person to another, either verbally or orally.
Effective communication facilitates the daily running of activities at homes, schools, hospitals, and other places where contact is required. Moreover, these skills need constant study and improvement; therefore, as a subject alumnus, I would like to urge other students to develop a motive to learn the course wholeheartedly, whether online or in person. Each one of them is the mentor, pacesetter, and flag bearer to this crucial subject. Students are obliged to critically study the subject, sensitize others and recruit as many learners. I will be devastated if any of them shun such an animated subject. I can satisfy that interpersonal skills is the core of human existence from the first word of mouth as a child to the last.
References
Koprowska, J. (2020). Communication and interpersonal skills in social work (5th ed.). Sage.
Saputra, W. N. E., & Prasetiawan, H. (2019). Cognitive defusion techniques to improve self-confidence of students. In 3rd International Conference on Education Innovation (ICEI 2019) (pp. 273-277). Atlantis Press.
Wrench, J. S., Punyanunt-Carter, N. M., & Thweatt, K. S. (2020). Interpersonal communication: a mindful approach to relationships. Center for Open Education.